Lighter



Dec. 19, 1.939. g, B, BASS 2,183,706

LIGHTER Filed May ll, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '11111, liLLUwlaiin wir? uu und y,

Patei'ed Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES Otfrll (LII PATENT OFFICE LIGHTER Russell B. Bass, Waterbury, Conn., assignmto Chase Brass & Copper Co. Incorporated, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation Application May 11, 1938, Serial No. 207,212

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved lighter used for lighting cigarettes and cigars, and is particularly directed to improvements in a lighter of the automatic type, in which, upon release of a closure-member, the closure-member is caused to swing by means of a tensioned element, and in swinging causes the operation of flame-producing mechanism.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a lighter in which the parts are arranged in close relationship and operate in a small substantially-confined space, whereby the operation of the flame-producing means is improved and the likelihood of inadvertent extinguishing of ame is lessened.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lighter, as described, with a separate snufferunit, which when operated by the opening swinging movement of a closure-member will be moved to a position providing ample flame space, but closely adjacent to the wick in position to quickly carry out its extinguishing function.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lighter, as described, which is operable to provide an improved seating arrangement of a wick-cap on a wick-tube to avoid evaporation and drying-out of the wick, and to thereby improve the operation of the apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lighter in which by novel construction and arrangement of parts, a substantially-simplied and compact structure is secured, and economies of manufacture are effected.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a lighter of the table type, the lighter being illustrated in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a broken vertical sectional view of the upper part of the lighter, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions which they assume when the closure-member is in its open position;

Fig. 4 is a broken vertical sectional View, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the U-shaped securing-member Fig. 7 is a similar view of the U-shaped hoodattaching member; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the snuffer-unit.

The improvements in lighter construction to which this invention relates may be applied to a lighter of the table type or of the pocket class, as will be clear from the drawings and as will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In a device of the character described, which is designed for personal use, it is desirable that the number of parts be few; that the construction be devoid of complicated arrangements and as free as possible of exposed parts. With regard to functional features, it is desirable that the number of operations required to produce ame be of minimum number and that the-extinguishing operation be prompt and eiective to avoid undue consumption of fuel; and that the snufler employed to extinguish the ame be seated in such manner as to effectively seal the Wick and prevent evaporation of fuel and drying of the wick.

It may be stated to be the two-fold purpose of the present invention to provide a lighter improved as to both its structural and its functional characteristics with respect to the features described above.

Turning now to the drawings, in the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the lighter is shown as preferably of verticallyelongated, rectangular form, with rounded edge portions. The lighter comprises a casing-structure generally designated by the reference character I IJ, which includes a body-portion I I, which may be conveniently die-cast, and a hood I2, which may be drawn from sheet-metal. At the junction between the body-portion II and its neck I3 there is formed an exterior, upwardlyfacing shoulder I4, and the said neck terminates in a head I5. This head I5 is of substantially less cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the body-portion II, proper. As shown, the head I5 is provided with an interiorly-threaded opening IB for the reception of a wick-tube, and with an opening I1 arranged to receive a support-tube for a flint-holding sleeve.

The hood I2 of the casing-structure I0 is seated on the said shoulder I 4 of the body-portion II, and the head I5 and the mechanism carried thereon is enclosed and protected by the said hood I2. The top-wall and the upper portion of the front-wall of the hood I2 are formed to llUUI provide a cap-receiving opening I8, having a portion I8a in the top-wall and a portion IBb in the front wall of the said hood I2 (see Fig. 3).

The portions I 8a and I8b of the said opening I8 are coveredand uncovered by a finger-like closure-member I9, and button-operated securing-means are provided which are operable to releasably secure the said closure-member in a position covering the said opening I8 in the hood I2. As shown, there is provided in the lower front-wall of the said hood, below a crossstrip 20, a button-receiving opening 2I in which a push button generally designated by the reference character 22, is movably arranged. As is particularly well shown in Fig. 2, the push button 22 is formed with a base 22a having its front surface normally engaging the inner surface of the front-wall of the hood I2 around the button-receiving opening 2| therein. Extending rearwardly from the base 22a is a boss 22h and an operating button-head 22e projects forwardly from the base 22a, and extends through the said button-receiving opening 2|.

A thin U-shaped securing-member, designated as a whole by the reference character 24 and composed of spring material, is arranged in the hood I2 for fiexure by the manual operation of the said push button 22. The U-shaped securing-member 24, as shown in Fig. 6, includes opposite arms 24a and an intermediate portion 24h. The said intermediate portion 24h may be of any desired conguration, and, for example, it may be as shown of wave-like form, to insure the desired degree of flexibility. The intermediate portion 24h of the securing-member 24 is provided with an opening 24c into which the rearwardly-extending boss 22h of the push button 22 passes. At its upper edge, the intermediate portion 24b is formed with a central, upwardlyextending detent-ear 25 which is provided with an opening 25a to releasably receive a detenttongue formed on the closure-member I9. As shown particularly well in Fig. 5, the securingmember 24 is arranged in the hood I2 with its respective arms 24a lying along the opposite sidewalls of the said hood and its wave-like intermediate portion 24b extending behind the front wall of and across the hood I2 and receiving in its opening 24c, the rearwardly-extending boss 22h of the push button 22.

In the form of the invention illustrated, a simple and e'ective attaching arrangement is provided for securing the hood I2 to the casingstructure ID. As is shown in Fig. 7, the means comprise a relatively-rigid U-shaped hoodattaching member 26 having upright arms 26a- 26a and an intermediate portion 26h. the latter being provided with a central opening 26e through which a support-tube for a hint-holding sleeve about to be described, can pass. The said intermediate portion 26h of the hood-attaching member 26 rests on and is cemented or otherwise secured to the top surface of the head I5 of the casing-structure I0, The upright arms 23a- 26a respectively lie against the opposite arms 24a-24a of the securing-member 24 and fastening-means such as rivets 21--21 pass through the side-walls of the hood I2, through the arms 24a-24a of the said securing-member 24 and through the said upright arms 26a-26a of the hood-attaching member 26, to thereby hold the securing-member 24 in place in the hood I2 and to secure the said hood to the head I5 of the casing-structure I Il.

Coming now to the ame-producing mechanism, the interior of the body-portion II of the said casing-structure provides a. fuel-compartment 28 into which fuel of any suitable nature may be introduced, and the fuel-compartment can contain a quantity of absorbent material. Arranged in the fuel-compartment 28 is a wick 29 and for receiving the upper end of the said Wick there is provided a wick-tube 30 which is beveled at its upper surface 30a to provide a seat for a wick-cap. At its inner end the wicktube 30 terminates in a tubular, exteriorlythreaded shank 3I, threaded into the threaded opening I6 in the head I5. The upper end of the wick 29 passes from the fuel-compartment 28 through the tubular shank 3I, through the wicktube 30 proper and projects above the latter into the shielding-chamber provided by the hood I2.

Extending throughout the length of the bodyportion II and projecting through the opening IT in the head I5 is a support-tube 32 which carries a hint-holding sleeve 33. The upper portion of the support-tube 32 is interiorly-threaded and the said flint-holding sleeve 33, exteriorlythreaded along the major portion of its length, is threaded into the said support-tube and is supported thereby. The flint-holding sleeve 33 carries a flint-rod 34, formed of pyrophoric material and the upper coils of a feed-spring 35, which is arranged in the said support-tube 32 enters the said flint-holding sleeve, engages with the flint-rod 34 and urges the said flint-rod upwardly.

Above the support-tube 32 the flint-holding sleeve 33 is formed to provide a shouldered and bifurcated portion 33a and in a recess 36 formed in the head I5 around the upper end of the opening Il, a gasket 31 and a washer 38 are fitted. The gasket 3T is suitably secured, as by cementing, to the intermediate portion 26h of the hood-attaching member 26 and the washer 38 is arranged, as shown in Fig. 4, with its upper surface engaged by the downwardly-facing shouldered portion of the flint-holding sleeve 33, and its lower surface resting on the gasket 31.

The bifurcated or forked upper portion 33a of the said flint-holding sleeve 33 provides arms 39-39, each of which is formed with an opening 39a. A Din 4D, headed at one end and flattened at its opposite end, passes through the openings 39a and projects beyond the outer faces of the said arms 39-39. Rotatably mounted on the pin 40 and conned between the arms 39--39 is a sparking-wheel 4I. The wheel 4I has teeth formed in the major portion of its peripheral surface and is provided with a flat face portion 4Ia, and the wheel is so arranged that its teeth scrape the flint-rod 34 to cause sparks to be produced for igniting fuel in the wick 29.

A feature distinguishing the invention and one which enables a number of the advantages of the present disclosure to be secured, is the provision of a separate snufferunit for the lighter.

By reference to Fig. 8 in particular, it will be seen, that the separate snuffer-unit, designated as a Whole by the reference character 42, includes a cup-shaped wick-cap 43 and a exible cap-supporting arm 44. At its lower open end, the said wick-cap 43 is formed with an annular lip 43a, Which has its inner face beveled to provide a complementary seating face for the seat 30a of the wick-tube 30. At its opposite end the wick-cap or snuffer 43 is formed with an integral rivet 43b which passes through the forward free end 44a of the cap-supporting arm 44 and is headed down thereon to securely fasten the wick-cap 43 to the said cap-supporting arm. The forward portion 44a is curved with respect to the rear portion of the cap-supporting arm, and the latter is formed to provide mountingears or projections 45-45. The mounting-ears 45 extend at opposite sides of and at a rightangle to the body-portion of the said cap-supporting arm 44, and each of the said mounting ears is perforated at 46 to receive the pin 40. As illustrated, the rear portion of the cap-supporting arm 44 is arranged to bridge the arms 39-39 of the hint-holding sleeve 33 and the mounting-ears 45-45 are arranged on the pin 40, one at the Outside of and adjacent each of the said arms 39-39. The rear portion of the cap-supporting arm 44 ts between the at face portion 4Ia of the wheel 4I, and the inner surface of the top wall of the closure-member I9 and by reason of this arrangement the said closure-member I9, the snuiTer-unit 42 and the wheel 4I are securely coupled for oscillating movement together. The curved forward portion 44a carrying the wick-cap 43 extends at an angular direction away from the said closuremember I9, and flexing or bending of the said forward portion of the cap-supporting arm during movements of the closure-member now to be described, causes relative movement between the closure-member I9 and the wick-cap 43 of the snuffer-unit 42.

The closure-member I9 includes a relativelylong top wall 48 for closing the top portion I 8a of the opening I8 in the hood I2, and a relativelyshort front wall 49 extending at a right angle to the said top wall 48 and serving to close the front portion I 8b of the opening I8 in the said hood. At the rear end of the top wall 48 of the said closure-member, mounting-arms 50-50 are provided, each of which is perforated at 5I. The pin 49 passes through the openings in the mounting-arms Sli-5l), which are arranged on the said Din at the outside of the arms 39-39 and are spaced laterally outwardly with respect to the said arms 39. The lower edge of the front wall 49 is provided with a detent-tongue 52 for entering the opening 25a in the detent-ear 25 of the securing-member 24 to releasably secure the Said closure-member I9 to the hood in a position closing the opening I8 therein.

Cooperating with the closure-member I9 is a tension-element, which in the arrangement shown is a substantially U-shaped torsion-spring 53. The central portion 54 of the spring 53 is arranged about the flint-holding sleeve 33 and rests against the washer 38. The branches 55-55 of the spring 53 pass at opposite sides of the said flint-holding sleeve and intermediate its length, each of the branches 55 is coiled at 56 about the pin 40 between one of the mountingarms 59 of the closure-member I9 and one of the mounting-ears 45 of the snuiTer-unit 42. The free ends 56-56 of the spring 53 rest against the under surface of the top wall 48 of the closuremember I9. As will be understood, when the detent-ear 25 of securing-member 24 is moved by the push button 22 to release the detent-tongue 52 of the closure-member I9, the tensioned spring 53 will act to move the closure-member I9 and cause the said closure-member to be rotated about the pin 40.

Normaly, the lighter is closed as shown in Fig. 1, and the parts are positioned as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. At such time, the detent-tongue 52 of the closure-member I9 is engaged in the opening 25a in the detent-ear 25 of the securing-member 24.

OH'KII lill The opening I8 in the hood I2 is closed, and the spring 53 is under tension. The wick-cap 43 of the snuffer-unit 42 covers the projecting upper end of the wick 29 and the beveled lip 43a of the said wick-cap is resiliently seated on the beveled seat 30a of the wick-tube 30, to effectively seal the said wick-tube. In the closed position, as shown, the top of the wick-cap or snuier 43 lies closely adjacent to the under surface of the long top wall 48 of the closure-member I9.

Upon pressing the push button 22, the yielding intermediate portion 24h of the securing-member 24 will release the detent-tongue 52 of the closure-member I9 and the tensioned spring 53 will act on the said closure-member to cause it to swing to uncover the opening I8 in the hood I2. By reason of the couple provided between the top wall 48 of the said closure-member I9, the rear end portion of the wick-cap supporting-arm 44, and the flat portion 4Ia of the wheel 4I. the

closure-member I9 in its swinging movement, wil cause the snuier-unit 42, which, in turn. will cause the sparking-wheel 4I to be revolved to scrape the flint-rod 34 and produce sparks for igniting fuel in the wick 29.

As the opening movement is taking place, the free end portion 44a of the cap-supporting arm 44 resumes a more curved form. In this manner some relative movement occurs between the Wickcap 43 of snuffer-unit 42 and the top wall 48 of the closure-member I9. The Wick-cap 43 moves t0 the position indicated in Fig. 3 in which it is so located at a distance sumciently removed from the wick 29 to provide ample ame space, but is relatively-widely spaced from the top wall 48 of the closure-member I9, in the direction of the said wick 29. In this position the wick-cap 43 is arranged to quickly initiate the snuffing operation and avoid unnecessary consumption of fuel.

To close the device, the closure-member I9, which is especially adapted to one-finger manipulation, may be snapped forwardly and downwardly. The snuffer-unit 42, which, as has been described, has its cap-supporting arm 44 coupled between the top wall 48 of the closure-member I9 and the at portion 4I a of the wheel 4I is likewise caused to turn to bring its wick-cap 43 into position over the wick 29.

Near the completion of the closing movement of the closure-member, as above described, the wick-cap 43 of the snuffer-unit 42 engages the seat 30a of the wick-tube 30 and is yieldingly held in sealing engagement therewith by the exible arm 44, despite slight variations or inequalities in the structure. As the detent-tongue 52 of the closure-member I9 is brought into registration with the opening 25a of the detent-ear 25 to enter the said opening, the curved forward portion 44a of the cap-supporting arm 44 is caused to undergo some straightening and the top wall of the closure-member I9 is moved into a position closely adjacent the top of the wick-cap 43 of the snuier-unit. By this arrangement the exible cap-supporting arm 44 enables the wick-cap to accommodate itself to slight assembly variations, and the wick-cap is caused to be resiliently seated with its lip 43a in gas-tight relation to the seat 38a of the wick-tube 30, thus effectively sealing the said wick-tube and minimizing the evaporation of fuel and drying of the said wick. As will be understood, the closure-member I9 in its closing movement also acted to cause the torsionspring 53 to be placed under tension, and when the detent-tongue 52 of the closure-member I9 enters the opening 25a in the detent-ear 25 of CII IIUUII the securing-member 24, the closure-member will be releasably held in place, against the tension of the said spring 53, and closing the opening I8 in the hood I2.

It will be observed that the name-producing mechanism and the snuffer-unit are mounted on the relatively-small head I within the area dened by the opening I8 in the hood I2. This provides a desirable close grouped relationship of the parts. It is also clear that the parts comprising the lighter make for easy and economical manufacture and assembly. This is particularly so with respect to the simple and effective mounting and coupling arrangement in which the rear end of the flexible cap-supporting arm 44 is conned between the top wall 48 of the closure-member I9 and the flat surface 4Ia on the sparkingwheel 4I.

The invention may be carried out in other specic ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. A lighter including in combination: a lighter-body carrying a projecting wick, a pyrophoric-member, and a sparking-wheel; a snuffelcap for the wick; a closure-member for the lighter-body; and separate spring-means substantially-individual to and exerting tension respectively on the closure-member and snuffercap, and comprising a spring engaging and urging the closure-member to open, and a flexible-arm having a free forward supporting-portion carrying said snuffer-cap and bent and spaced from said closure-member, and also having a rear coupling-portion engaging with said closuremember and said sparking-wheel and providing a coupling-connection therewith; the latter acting in opening of the closure-member to cause said arm and sparking-wheel to move therewith to expose said wick for ignition of fuel therein, and also acting in closing of the closure-member to cause the return of said arm and tensioning of its free supporting-portion, the said supporting-portion exerting its tension on the snuffer-cap carried thereby to urge the same downwardly and provide a vapor-seal about the said wick.

2. A lighter including in combination: a lighter-body carrying a projecting wick, a pyrophoric-member, and a sparking-wheel having a toothed-portion and a fiat connecting-portion; a snufTer-cap for the wick; a closure-member normally urged to open and having a connectingportion spaced from the connecting-portion of said sparking-wheel; and a flexible-arm having a free forward supporting-portion carrying said snuffer-cap and bent and spaced from said closure-member, and also having a rear couplingportion fitted between and engaging the respective connecting-portions of the closure-member and sparking-wheel and providing a couplingconnection therewith; the latter acting in opening of the closure-member to cause said arm and sparking-wheel to move therewith to expose said wick for ignition of fuel therein, and also acting in closing of the closure-member to cause the return of said arm and tensioning of its free supporting-portion, the said supporting-portion exerting its tension on the snuffer-cap carried thereby to urge the same downwardly and provide a vapor-seal about the said wick.

3. A lighter including in combination: a. lighter-body carrying a projecting wick, a pyrophoric-member, and a sparking-wheel having a toothed-portion and a at connecting-portion; a snuier-cap for the wick; a closure-member normally urged to open and having a connectingportion spaced from the connecting-portion of said sparking-wheel; and separate spring-means substantially-individual to and exerting tension respectively on the closure-member and snuercap and comprising a spring engaging and urging said closure-member to open, and a flexible-arm having a free forward supporting-portion carrying said snuffer-cap and bent and spaced from said closure-member, and also having a rear coupling-portion fitted between and engaging the respective connecting-portions of the closuremember and sparking-wheel and providing a coupling-connection therewith; the latter acting in opening of the closure-member to cause said arm and sparking-wheel to move therewith to expose said wick for ignition of fuel therein, and also acting in closing of the closure-member to cause the return of said arm and tensioning of its free supporting-portion, the said supporting-portion exerting its tension on the snuffer-cap carried thereby to urge the same downwardly and provide a vapor-seal about the said wick.

4. A lighter including in combination: a lighter-body; a wick projecting therefrom; a supporting-member having a tubular-portion extending above the lighter-body and carrying a pyrophoric-member therein, and also having an integral bifurcated-portion at the upper end thereof carrying a bearing-pin; a sparking-wheel mounted on said bearing-pin between said bifurcations and above said pyrophoric-member; a snuier-cap for said wick; a closure-member for the lighter-body having side-portions each provided with an opening for said bearing-pin, the bearing-pin passing therethrough exteriorly of the bifurcations of said supporting-member, and said closure-member being normally urged about said bearing-pin to open the same; and a exiblearm having a free forward supporting-portion carrying said snuffer-cap and bent and spaced from said closure-member, and also having a rear coupling-portion engaging with said closuremember and said sparking-wheel and providing a coupling-connection therewith; the latter acting in opening of the closure-member to cause said arm and sparking-wheel to move therewith to expose said wick for ignition of fuel therein, and also acting in closing of the closure-member to cause the return of said arm and tensioning of its free supporting-portion, the said supportingportion exerting its tension on the snuifer-cap carried thereby to urge the same downwardly and provide a vapor-seal about the said wick.

5. A lighter including in combination: a lighter-body; a wick projecting therefrom; a supporting-member having a tubular-portion extending above th lighter-body and carrying a pyrophoric-member therein, and also having an integral bifurcated-portion at the upper end thereof carrying a bearing-pin; a sparking-wheel mounted on said bearing-pin between said bifurcations and above said pyrophoric-member; a snuifer-cap for said wick; a closure-member for the lighter-body having side-portions each provided with an opening for said bearing-pin, the bearing-pin passing therethrough exteriorly of the bifurcations of said supporting-member; and

separate spring-means substantially-individual to and exerting tension respectively on the c10- sure-member and snuffer-cap, and comprising a spring engaging and urging the closure-member to open, and a exible-arm having a free forward supporting-portion carrying said snuffercap and bent and spaced from said closure-member, and also having a rear coupling-portion engaging with said closure-member and said sparking-Wheel and providing a coupling-connection therewith; the latter acting in opening of the closure-member to cause said arm and sparkingwheel to move therewith to expose said wick for ignition of fuel therein, and also acting in closing of the closure-member to cause the return of said arm and tensioning of its free supporting-portion, the said supporting-portion exerting its tension on the snufer-cap carried thereby to urge the same downwardly and provide a vaporseal about the said wick.

6. A lighter including in combination: a lighter-body; a wick projecting therefrom; a supporting-member having a tubular-portion extending above the lighter-body and carrying a pyrophoric-member therein, and also having an integral bifurcated-portion at the upper end thereof carrying a bearing-pin; a sparking-wheel mounted on said bearing-pin between said bifurcations and above said pyrophoric-member and having a toothed-portion and a at connecting-portion; a snuier-cap for said wick; a clo- UGO! LII sure-member for the lighter-body having sideportions each provided with an opening for said bearing-pin, the said bearing-pin passing therethrough exteriorly of the bifurcations of said supporting-member, and the said closure-member also having a connecting-portion spaced from the connecting-portion of said sparking-wheel; and separate spring-means substantially-individual to and exerting tension respectively on the closure-member and snuiTer-cap, and comprising a torsion-spring engaging and urging said closure-member about the bearing-pin to open, said spring-means also including a flexible-arm having a free forward supporting-portion carrying said snufer-cap and bent and spaced from said closure-member, and also having a rear couplingportion tted between and engaging the respective connecting-portions of said closure-member and said sparking-wheel and providing a coupling-connection therewith; the latter acting in opening of the closure-member to cause said arm and sparking-Wheel to move therewith to expose said wick for ignition of fuel therein, and also acting in closing of the closure-member to cause the return of said arm and tensioning of its free supporting-portion, the said supporting-portion exerting its tension on the snuier-cap carried thereby to urge the same downwardly and provide a vapor-seal about the said wick.

RUSSELL B. BASS.

HUUH 

